The Enterprise crew has to deal with a Klingon sleeper ship whose occupants don't know the Federation and Klingons are at peace. On-board to help them is an emissary, who (coincidentally) is one of Worf's former love interests.

Contents

Summary

Teaser

"Talk, or play: not both."

Worf, Data, Geordi La Forge, Dr. Pulaski and Riker are playing poker. When Worf makes a big bet, Data suggests that he doesn't fully understand the nuances of the game. Riker points out that Worf has been the biggest winner that day, implying that Data shouldn't underestimate his poker skills. Data expresses doubt that Worf's success is due to anything other than random chance. On a subsequent hand, Worf once again bets big, and La Forge says he's bluffing. Worf insists that Klingons never bluff.

The poker game is interrupted before the hand can be played out, when the Enterprise receives an urgent confidential message from Starfleet Command.

Act One

"I greet you. I am K'Ehleyr."

The crew is informed that they are to pick up an emissary who will assist them with a very important mission. CaptainPicard asks for more information, but is told that utmost secrecy is required and that he will be fully informed of the situation by the emissary.

They later rendezvous with the emissary's shuttle, a specially-converted probe capable of transporting one person at warp 9. Upon opening the probe, the emissary is revealed to be K'Ehleyr, a half Klingon, half Human woman and one of Worf's former love interests.

Act Two

"You're as stubborn as ever!"

K'Ehleyr explains that a Klingon battle cruiser named the T'Ong was launched from the Klingon homeworld seventy years ago, during the Klingon War, on a long-term mission to attack a remote Federationoutpost. Ever since the launch, its crew has been in suspended animation, set to awaken only upon reaching the target. Thus, the crew of the T'Ong are unaware of the peace between the Federation and the Klingons, and will attack the outpost when they awaken.

Forced to work together with unresolved feelings from their previous relationship, Worf and K'Ehleyr get into heated emotional conflicts and are unable to properly concentrate on the job at hand.

Act Three

The conflicts come to a head when Worf and K'Ehleyr engage in one of Worf's holodeck training routines. They fight and defeat holographic enemies, then give in to their desires and engage in a Klingon mating ritual.

Act Four

"We are mated."

Afterwords, Worf initiates a vow of marriage, shouting "tlhIngan jIH" (Klingonese for "I am a Klingon"), but K'Ehleyr refuses to participate, unwilling to commit to the marriage dictated by Klingon tradition.

Captain Picard wants a peaceful solution to the Klingon battle cruiser problem, but K'Ehleyr insists the Klingons will have to be destroyed because they will never believe him if he tries to explain that they are no longer at war. When they first encounter the T'Ong, the Enterprise is immediately fired upon with no attempt made at communication. It appears K'Ehleyr's prediction is correct; the Enterprise will be forced to destroy the T'Ong.

Act Five

"I can waste no more time on you."

However, Worf has come up with a cunning plan. Clad in full traditional Klingon command uniforms, he and K'Ehleyr appear on viewscreen as captain and first officer of the Enterprise. "Captain" Worf informs Captain K'Temoc of the T'Ong that the war is over, implying with his appearance and apparent command of a Federation ship that the Klingons have been victorious. He then orders K'Temoc to lower his shields. K'Temoc hesitates to comply, unsure whether to trust Worf's explanation – but finally agrees, fooled by Worf's well-played bluff. Arrangements are made for K'Ehleyr to beam on board the T'Ong and take command until the arrival of a Klingon ship to escort them back to Qo'noS.

Worf and K'Ehleyr discuss their feelings for one another prior to her departure, leaving open the question of whether their paths will cross again.

Director Cliff Bole devised several of the Klingon customs seen here. He recalled, "I came up with that thing where [K'Ehleyr] digs into [Worf's] hand and there's all that blood. I did that on the set. I was wondering what these people do, and I had the image of bones breaking and felt that's what they do when they get it on." (Captains' Logs: The Unauthorized Complete Trek Voyages)

Reception

Maurice Hurley remarked, "Great idea and one that worked. Hard for that one not to work, but it worked well all the way through. With the Klingons you're dealing with emotion and passion. You've got somebody who can see something. You need that balance in the show sometimes. The show gets so intellectually smug and self-serving, and you need something like that to break it off; someone willing to storm the barricades. The idea of the half-Klingon was fun." (Captains' Logs: The Unauthorized Complete Trek Voyages)

Cliff Bole commented, "I liked the show and thought Michael Dorn did a real good job in it. I think I let [Suzie Plakson] get overboard a little bit. She was a little too broad, but she's a talented lady. I think the Klingon shows are fun to do, because you can go a little broad with them." (Captains' Logs: The Unauthorized Complete Trek Voyages)

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